Following a national search, C. Edward “Ed” Meadows was selected as Pensacola Junior College’s sixth president and began leading the College in June 2008. Meadows previously had been president of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Alabama.
NASA astronaut and PJC alum Alan Poindexter took a specially minted, gold PJC medallion with him on a 5.3 million-mile Atlantis space shuttle mission in February 2008. In June, he presented the medallion to President Meadows and College officials.
September 8, 2008, marked the sixtieth anniversary of Pensacola Junior College. Celebratory events included cake cutting ceremonies on each campus and an outdoor, evening concert directed by Don Snowden, longtime Music and Theatre Department Head.
In October 2008, The Corsair captured the General Excellence Award for Florida community college papers for the fifteenth time in eighteen years.
PJC’s nursing program received full accreditation from the National League for Nursing and Accrediting Commission in 2008.
The Practical Nursing Program ranked number one out of all 1,036 programs across the nation for the period of April through September 2008.
In 2008, PJC partnered with the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce to open the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Downtown Center. This incubator program provides a supportive environment to new business startup for high technology and virtual entrepreneurs.
The College’s SkillsUSA student organization was chartered and began hosting the regional secondary and post-secondary skills competitions in 2008.
In November 2008, the College Board of Trustees unanimously voted to pursue the offering of baccalaureate degrees.
PJC’s nationally recognized Smart Simulation Center was designated as a Center of Educational Excellence by Laerdal Medical Corp in December 2008. PJC was only the second community college in the country to receive this distinction.
In 2008, the District Board of Trustees revised the official College colors of green and white to green, white, and blue. The PJC mascot logo also was revised to a pirate profile designed by PJC alum Brett Swanson, son of Paul Swanson, longtime men’s basketball coach.
In April 2009, the Milton Center entry road was renamed Worley Boulevard in honor of Douglas Worley, the Center’s first provost.
Lady Pirate softball players christened their new field on the Pensacola campus with double header wins, April 22, 2009. From its beginning in 1981, the softball team had played all home games at the Milton Center.
In August 2009, the Edward M. Chadbourne Library was dedicated after a $9 million renovation and expansion. The spacious facility was named in honor of Chadbourne, a PJC alumnus, who through the Chadbourne Foundation gifted more than $1.2 million for student scholarships.
During the September 2009 investiture ceremony for President Ed Meadows, the District Board of Trustees named all previous Pensacola Junior College presidents as Presidents Emeriti: Henry L. Ashmore, T. Felton Harrison, Horace “Ed” Hartsell, Charles A. Atwell, and G. Thomas Delaino.
G.I. Jobs magazine and website named PJC as a Military Friendly College in 2009 for its benefits to veterans and active duty military.
In December 2009, the Hobbs Center for Teaching Excellence was dedicated on the Pensacola campus. During the ceremony, Pensacola Junior College President Ed Meadows and University of West Florida President Judy Bense signed a partnership allowing UWF students to join PJC students in benefiting from the state-of-the-art facility. The Hobbs Center, created through a $1 million gift in October 2007, benefits Adult High School and Secondary Education students as well as students enrolled in college-credit classes in order to become teachers.
In January 2010, the District Board of Trustees approved the renaming of Adult High School to Collegiate High School to better reflect its purpose.
In Spring 2010, PJC was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. It was one of only four Florida community colleges honored with this national recognition.
WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast, won a Bronze Telly Award and a People’s Telly Award in 2010 for its original documentary, “Gulf Islands National Seashore: The Treasure of the Gulf Coast,” narrated by renowned documentarian Ken Burns.
Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach Bill Hamilton was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in May 2010. In twenty-three seasons, with twenty at PJC, Hamilton amassed 702 career wins, the most wins in the College’s history.
Astronomy professor Wayne Wooten received the National Astronomical League Award, the highest award in amateur astronomy, in June 2010.
In 2010, the College received approval from the Florida State Board of Education and from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs: a Bachelor of Applied Science in Administration and Supervision and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
On July 1, 2010, the College name officially changed from Pensacola Junior College to Pensacola State College to reflect its expanded mission.
The College broke ground in July 2010 for its $9.4 million South Santa Rosa Center, becoming the first College building to be constructed as a certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building.
In 2010, the Milton Center was elevated to Milton Campus status by the State Board of Education.
In March 2011, the Lady Pirates basketball team, coached by Chanda Rigby, ended a 35-1 season with thirty-four straight wins. The Lady Pirates won the FCCAA State Championship for the first time since 1985 and the Panhandle Conference Championship for the first time since 1994, and returned from the National Junior College Athletic Association finals, ranked number three in the nation. Coach Rigby was named Panhandle Conference and FCCAA Coach of the Year.
In January 2011, inaugural classes began for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Bachelor of Applied Science in Administration and Supervision (BAS) programs.
In March 2011, the Lady Pirates basketball team ended a record-breaking 35-1 season with 34 straight wins. Lady Pirates won the FCCAA State Championship for the first time since 1985, the Panhandle Conference Championship for the first time since 1994, and returned from the NJCAA finals, ranked No. 3 in the nation. Lady Pirates Basketball Coach Chanda Rigby was named Panhandle Conference and FCCAA Coach of the Year.
The first President’s Leadership Institute was initiated in 2011 as a rigorous, year-long professional development program open to full-time College employees selected through a competitive process.
In June 2011, the Florida Heritage Site Historical Marker was unveiled honoring the original site of the College at the corner of Palafox and Cervantes streets in downtown Pensacola.
For the first time in the College’s history, bachelor’s degrees were awarded at the December 2011 graduation. The seven students receiving BAS and BSN degrees also received specially minted coins recognizing their accomplishments and serving as a talisman for their future endeavors.
In January 2012, Pensacola State opened two new centers – the new 35,000 square-foot South Santa Rosa Center and the extensively-renovated Century Center.
The Lady Pirates basketball players made history in March 2012 as the College’s first athletic team to win back-to-back FCSAA State Championships. Coached by Chanda Rigby, the team again ended the season ranked third in the nation.
Pensacola State College received the first annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine in November 2012.
The College began 2013 by unveiling a new logo reflecting Pensacola State College’s name change and beautiful coastal area.
In April 2013, PSC hosted the largest-ever Florida SkillsUSA State Conference, drawing more than 6,500 participants.
PSC Visual Arts Professor Bill Clover received the U.S. President’s Call to Service Lifetime Achievement Award for contributing more than 7,000 hours of volunteer service to Manna Food Pantries.
PSC Performing Arts Instructor Kadisha Onalbayeva was named an International Steinway Artist and performed on the legendary Steinway & Sons Horowitz piano in the North American tour.
In September 2013, PSC celebrated its 65th anniversary as the oldest college in the area and launched a new Alumni Affairs office to better serve the College’s more than 96,000 graduates.
PSC welcomed the opening of a stunning 13,500-square-foot facility to house the PACE Center for Girls in fall 2013 – the only PACE Center in Florida located on a college campus.
In 2014, Visual Arts Students won 41 of 50 ADDY awards in the local college and university competition, 10 ADDY awards in the district competition, and two ADDY awards in the national competition.
In June 2014, PSC and the University of West Florida launched the PSC2UWF partnership to better facilitate students who complete an associate degree from PSC and transfer to UWF to complete a bachelor’s degree.
PSC opened the first outdoor gallery of its kind with a 15×20 foot reproduction of the Dutch masterpiece, “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” in summer 2014.
The Lamar, Reilly and Switzer families presented a $1 million gift for construction of the Charles W. Lamar Studio at PSC’s Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts.
Acclaimed National Geographic photographer, Steve McCurry, displayed 74 large format photographs in a first-ever, four-month solo exhibit at the Switzer Gallery.
In January 2015, PSC and the University of West Florida entered a partnership to admit select students from PSC’s Bachelor of Applied Science program into UWF’s Master of Business Administration or Master of Science in Administration, Health Care Administration Track.
After 18 years coaching the Lady Pirates softball team, Brenda Pena retired at the end of the 2015 season with 891 wins. She had coached the team since 1997 and held the distinction of being the first athlete signed to play for PSC’s inaugural softball team in 1981.
In June 2015, the Molly McGuire Culinary Arts Dining Room was dedicated in memory of Molly McGuire, a beloved restauranteur known for her unmatched hospitality.
Visual Arts Professor Bill Clover began his 50th year teaching at the college in August 2015. He is an award-winning artist and is the longest serving faculty member in the history of Pensacola State.
In January 2016, PSC received approval from the Florida Board of Education to offer a new baccalaureate degree program, the Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity, designed around industry and Department of Homeland Security standards.
In Spring 2016, Pensacola State’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program became the first in this region to earn accreditation from two national agencies, ACEN and CCNE.
In Summer 2016, PSC held the 35th Annual Summer Dance Workshop, drawing more than 100 students from across the nation for the week-long seminar featuring an acclaimed professional dance faculty.
In December 2016, the White House TechHire Initiative added Pensacola, with Pensacola State College leading the way, to a national program that promotes access to well-paying tech jobs.
In January of 2017, Pensacola State College’s Virtual Tutoring Program was awarded the prestigious national Bellwether Award.
In February of 2017, Visual Arts students won 52 of 94 ADDY Awards in the regional college and university competition, including 19 Gold, 30 Silver, and three Judges’ Choice awards. In the Professional category, Mark Hopkins, Graphic Design Instructor, won a Silver award.
In February of 2017, Pensacola State President Ed Meadows was presented the highly-coveted Leadership in Education Award during the Greater Pensacola Chamber’s 57th annual PACE Awards celebration.
The Leader in Education Award is presented to an individual with a stellar record of educational service through outstanding contributions to the advancement, mentorship and encouragement of students in or outside of the classroom.
Each year, the PACE Awards honor outstanding individuals in the community who have made significant contributions to Greater Pensacola area.
In May of 2017, former Pensacola State College softball coach Mary Bailey was posthumously inducted into the Florida College System Activities Association Hall of Fame.
Coach Bailey was the head softball coach at Pensacola State from 1982-1994, during which time she built the program into a national power. In 1988, Coach Bailey led the Lady Pirates slow-pitch softball team to the NJCAA Division I National championship and she was named the 1988 NJCAA National Coach of the Year.
In May of 2017, the T.T. Wentworth Jr. Historical Foundation Inc. completed its final phase by placing a parting gift of more than $100,000 with Pensacola State College to establish a perpetual resource for distinguished teachers and scholars.
The Mr. and Mrs. T.T. Wentworth Jr. Endowed Chair in American History honors both Rosabel and Theodore Thomas “Tom” Wentworth Jr. for their dedication in preserving and celebrating the history of Northwest Florida and the State of Florida.
In July of 2017, Pensacola State College and Florida State University Panama City administrators partnered to make it easier for PSC students to transfer to the university.
The articulation agreement, Direct Connect ─ Pensacola State College to FSU Panama City, allows Pensacola State students easier access to the university’s four-year bachelor’s degree programs.
In July of 2017, Pensacola State College joined Achieving the Dream, a network of more than 220 colleges in 39 states dedicated to improving student success. As a network institution, Pensacola State innovates to implement, align, and scale cutting-edge reforms, work with ATD coaches to build institutional capacity, and connect with peers to foster learning and share information.
In August of 2017, Pensacola State College ranked third among Florida’s 28 public state colleges in the 2017 Top 10 list for Florida, according to Schools.com, an online nationwide resource with a database of more than 8,000 2-year and 4-year institutions.
To compile the ranking, the Schools.com organization researched each of the 28 schools in the Florida College System and looked at factors like affordability, graduation rate, university-transfer rate and student-faculty ratio.
In ranking Pensacola State, the Schools.com website noted that PSC has the state’s second-highest transfer rate in Florida’s State University System and offers flexible schedules for busy students, onsite daycare and credit for life experience.
The Top 10 list includes: 1-Eastern Florida State College, 2-Valencia College, 3-Pensacola State College, 4-Lake-Sumter State College, 5-Gulf Coast State College, 6-South Florida State College, 7-Chipola College, 8-Palm Beach State College, 9-Pasco-Hernando State College, and 10-Seminole State College of Florida.
In September of 2017, Pensacola State ranked as one of the best colleges ─ regionally and nationally ─ by U.S. News and World Report. Published annually, the report ranks more than 1,400 private and public colleges and universities and is a guide to help parents and students select schools.
In the “Best Colleges 2018 Edition” report, Pensacola State tied for 4th in Top Public Schools ─ Regional Colleges ─ South and is the highest ranked college in Florida. PSC also ranked No. 28 in overall Best Regional Colleges South.
Among national colleges and universities, Pensacola State ranked No. 11 in Best Schools for Veterans and No. 147 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (no doctorate).
In September of 2017, Pensacola State College received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to renew its Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) program for the next five years. This program assists 130 veterans per year as they gain skills needed to enter college and become successful students.
The program at Pensacola State is currently the only VUB program in Florida and is one of only 49 federally funded TRIO Veterans Upward Bound programs in the country.
In September of 2017, a record $38,000 was raised at the 10th anniversary Pick a Bowl Fill a Bowl event for Manna Food Pantries hosted by Pensacola State College. An array of bowls handcrafted by PSC visual arts faculty and local artists were available to buy and then fill with soup. The event has generated more than $300,000 for Manna over the past decade.
In November of 2017, Military Times names Pensacola State College in its Military Times Best: Colleges 2018 list, formerly known as Best for Vets.
The rankings are the result of a comprehensive survey of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement along with other factors that make colleges and universities a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families. According to Military Times, the rankings were more competitive than ever this year as a record number of more than 600 schools participated in the survey.
In 2018, Pensacola State College was: Ranked No. 4 in “Top Public Schools – Regional Colleges South” by U.S. News and World Report, making PSC the highest ranked Florida college (2018); Ranked No. 11 in “Best Schools for Veterans – National Colleges and Universities” by U.S. News and World Report (2018); Ranked No. 28 overall in “Best Regional Colleges South” by U.S. News and World Report (2018); and Ranked No. 147 in “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (no doctorate)” by U.S. News and World Report (2018).
In January of 2018, Pensacola State College’s Century Mobile Welding Program was one of the Top Ten Finalists for a 2018 National Bellwether Award.
The National Bellwether Awards annually recognize outstanding and innovative programs and practices that are successfully leading community colleges into the future.
In 2018, Pensacola State College was named a 2018 Military Friendly® School by Victory Media.
This is the ninth consecutive year, PSC has received the designation awarded to U.S. colleges, universities and trade schools that dedicate resources to military students to ensure success in the classroom and after graduation. The College has more than 2,000 veterans, active duty personnel and their dependents enrolled in classes.
In February of 2018, a standing-room only crowd gathered for the ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration of Pensacola State College’s Charles W. Lamar Studio.
Located adjacent to the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts, the 11,000-square-foot studio was made possible by a $1 million gift from the Lamar, Reilly and Switzer families in 2014. The donation served as seed money for the construction of the $3 million facility which was completed in 2017.
On April 6, 2018, Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 75/Military Assistance Bill on April 6, which authorizes Pensacola State College to waive fees for active duty military students using tuition assistance. The bill unanimously passed the Senate and House on March 13.
Florida College System (FCS) institutions, which includes Pensacola State College, can now to use the U. S. Department of Defense Military Tuition Assistance (MTA) program to waive any portion of fees for student activities and services, financial aid, technology, and capital improvements.
The Military Tuition Program covers tuition expenses for service members at postsecondary education institutions.
In May of 2018, six Pensacola State College visual arts students earned three gold and five silver awards at the 57th Annual 4th District American Advertising Awards Gala held April 14 in Orlando.
Kelly Bestgen won two gold awards while Alicia Kanuck won one gold award. The two automatically advanced to the 2018 national competition.
In 2018, Pensacola State College Athletic Director Bill Hamilton was inducted into the 2018 Florida College System Activities Association Hall of Fame.
Hamilton has worked in collegiate athletics for more than 35 years. Twenty-nine of those years have been at Pensacola State where Hamilton was head baseball coach before retiring in 2010, and the college’s athletic director since 1999.
In April and May of 2018, Pensacola State College hosted the 2018 SkillsUSA Florida State Leadership and Skills Conference. The conference, along with the Worlds of Possibilities Career Expo, was held at the Pensacola Bay Center. The event attracted about 6,000 visitors and had a $3.8 million impact on the local economy.
The college also will host the state SkillsUSA conferences in 2018 and 2019.
Longtime PSC visual arts professor William “Bill” Clover passed away on May 7, 2018. Well-known for his ceramic pottery, the Los Angeles native arrived at Pensacola State in 1966 and spent more than 52 years. He is the College’s longest-serving faculty member.
He worked under five Pensacola State presidents: T. Felton Harrison, Horace “Ed” Hartsell, Charles A. Atwell, G. Thomas Delaino and currently, Ed Meadows. And over his career, he educated and influenced more than 10,000 students including parents, grandparents, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A generous spirit, Bill volunteered at Manna Food Pantries for over a decade – helping the charity raise nearly $300,000 during Pick a Bow, Fill a Bowl fundraisers. In 2014, he received the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award for contributing more than 7,000 hours of service to Manna. He also was recognized for his work in creating more than 6,500 handcrafted bowls for the fundraisers.
Bill is survived by his wife, Kathleen; daughters, Kristen and Christi; and one granddaughter, Katie.
In May of 2018, Pensacola State College was named a 2018 Military Friendly® School by Victory Media.
This is the ninth consecutive year, PSC has received the designation awarded to U.S. colleges, universities and trade schools that dedicate resources to military students to ensure success in the classroom and after graduation. The College has more than 2,000 veterans, active duty personnel and their dependents enrolled in classes.
In July of 2018, the U.S. Department of Education listed Pensacola State College as a best value among public four-year colleges and universities for the seventh consecutive year.
Pensacola State is ranked 37th on the list of 71 institutions cited for lowest tuition in the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency annual report. With annual tuition listed as $2,704, Pensacola State is eighth among the 25 Florida colleges to make the most affordable ranking.
Average tuition is $8,022 for the nation’s 681 public four-year institutions, according to the report. In all, the report gives data for 2,606 four-year institutions, including private and private for-profit colleges and universities.
In August of 2018, the late Carl Duke, former head of Pensacola State’s visual arts, bequeathed a sizable portion of his art collection to the College.
More than 400 pieces were donated to Pensacola State with the stipulation the artwork be used to help visual arts students further their education. Much of the collection is artwork created by Duke; however the bequest also includes pieces him and his late wife, Jo Lynn, acquired during their travels and other pieces given to the couple.
Some pieces from the collection were up for bid during the Bill Clover Memorial Auction held on Oct. 25, in the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts. Proceeds from the auction will be used to establish the Bill Clover Endowed Scholarship.
In August of 2018, Pensacola State College announced plan to offer Commercial Driver Certification.
There are plans to build a permanent facility for commercial truck driver training program at the Northwest Florida Industrial Park in Milton, which will provide easy access to Interstate 10. The College has already purchased a truck using a U.S. Department of Education Opportunity Grant and Santa Rosa County has agreed conceptually to the location.
Students must be at least 18 years old and comply with all state and federal licensing requirements. They are required to hold a Class E Florida Driver’s license with no violations which would prevent them from obtaining a Class A CDL.
In August of 2018, Pensacola State College received nearly $40,000 to help students pay for the cost of higher education.
A majority of the scholarship dollars ─ $27,220 ─ were donated by Florida Blue, the Helios Education First Generation Scholars program and Bank of America’s Dream Makers First Generation Scholars program. Local supporters also chipped in over $12,000 in matching funds to bring the donation total to $39,980.
In September of 2018, Pensacola State College celebrated its 70th birthday with week of activities Sept. 10-14 at all of the campuses and centers.
Sept. 13, 1948, is the official opening date of the College which began in the Aiken Boarding House on the corner of Palafox and Cervantes Streets with 128 students. Today, the College has grown to three campuses – Pensacola, Milton and Warrington and three centers – Century, Downtown and South Santa Rosa.
More than 100,000 graduates have earned associate, bachelor’s degrees as well as workforce certifications from the College.
In September of 2018, Pensacola State College student Jennifer Ojeda was selected the Florida College System Chancellor’s Clark Maxwell Scholar of the Month.
The award recognizes outstanding FCS students who demonstrate leadership skills, academic success and/or commitment to community service. Students are recognized monthly by the Florida College System Chancellor with a $150 scholarship, certificate and highlighted in the newsletter.
In October of 2018, Pensacola State College has become part of “Pathway USA,” a collaborative program between the University of South Alabama and select community and state colleges that creates a seamless transition to USA for transfer students who earn associate’s degree. Pensacola State is the first Florida College System institution to join the program. The academic partnership will enable more PSC graduates to transfer to USA and earn their bachelor’s degrees from the university.
In October 2018, Pensacola State College’s Century Center held the inaugural Century Classic set for Saturday, Oct. 20, at Showalter Park in Century.
Former PSC and Major League Baseball players, Bill Sadler and Greg Litton, along with Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry were special guests at the Classic.
In October of 2018, Pensacola State College’s Century Center started a community garden for the residents of Century and surrounding areas.
In November of 2013, ground was broken for Pensacola State College’s East Wing of the new STEM building. Construction on the first phase (East Wing) of the facility will begin in January – following the abatement and demolition of the existing Mary Ellison Baars Building. The East Wing will be home to the College’s cybersecurity and mathematics programs. The cost for the East Wing is $13 million. The total cost for the entire facility is projected to be $34 million. A construction start date has not been set for the second phase (West Wing and second-floor connector).
In November of 2018, Pensacola State College was among four Florida College System institutions recognized for innovation and excellence by FCS Chancellor Madeline Pumariega.
Pensacola State, Florida Gateway College, North Florida Community College and Polk State College received 2018 Chancellor’s Best Practice Awards from Pumariega. The four colleges were honored for programs of excellence at the Association of Florida Colleges’ 69th Annual Meeting and Conference in Orlando.
Pensacola State was honored for the Bellwether Virtual Tutoring Program which has served more than a 1,000 students per year. The program provides services to students who might not have access to traditional tutoring methods by offering access to individualized services from any location or device with an internet connection.
In November of 2018, Pensacola State College was awarded a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).
OVW’s Grant to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program supports initiatives to implement comprehensive, coordinated responses to violent crimes on campus through partnerships with victim services providers and justice agencies.
This award will make possible a range of services, including specialized training for campus law enforcement, service providers, and campus personnel as well as training and programming for Pensacola State College students at all campus locations.
In December of 2018, the Gulf Power Foundation pledged $150,000 to Pensacola State College to help establish training for nonprofit organizations’ professional staffs and boards.
The first $30,000 donation will be used to develop Certified Fund Raising Executive courses on:
- Funding diversification
- Board development
- Grant writing
- Comprehensive campaigns, and
- Donor-centered proposals and presentations.
Over the next five years, scholarships also will be provided for worthy students and qualifying nonprofit organizations.
